Almost everyone struggled with acne as a teenager, but it can follow you into your adult life in some cases—I can personally attest to this. I have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which messes with your hormones on an unbearable level. I’ve experienced especially awful skin quality over the past 2 years, and it’s been really hard. Aside from excessive breakouts stealing my confidence, they’re also incredibly painful. As a result, it became my mission to find something that would bring me relief from hormonal acne. I’ve had a few successes and my skin is clear for the most part. Explore a few of my acne-prone skincare tips that actually work—they might work for you, too!

Moisturize Properly

Moisturizing is one of the most important parts of skincare, but many people don’t actually know how to do so and when. The first step is finding a moisturizer that you like and that suits your skin type. Personally, I love my moisturizer from Honest Beauty. They have tons of skincare and makeup products that I highly recommend, as they’re clean and non-toxic for the most part. 

Many with oily skin simply aren’t providing their skin with enough moisture. As a result, your body produces an abundance of sebum (natural oils) that does more harm than good. I always thought I was a super oily person, but it turned out that I just wasn’t using enough moisturizer. Now, my oiliness is much less severe, which also helps prevent acne. 

So, you should use a healthy amount of product when it comes to giving your skin everything it needs. Additionally, many people wait much too long to apply moisturizer after washing their face or exiting the shower—it should be the first thing you do. When the water begins to dry, it also draws moisture from your skin, which can leave you feeling dry. If your skin starts to feel dry or tight after your shower, this is a sign you may be waiting too long to moisturize. 

Surprisingly, it takes only 3 minutes for this to happen! When I get out of the shower, I dry off really quick and then do my skincare right away. By applying your moisturizer when your skin is still damp, it will lock in hydration rather than letting it escape through evaporation.

Pro Tip

Add a drop of 100% pure tea tree oil to your nightly dab of moisturizer. I’ve been doing this for most of the year, and it helps with acne and inflammation. 

Use Baking Soda as an Exfoliant 

This one might be controversial, and most dermatologists will probably tell you otherwise. But baking soda is one of my favorite household products—I use it for everything (including exfoliating!). I was doubtful too, but I tried it, and I’m here to tell you that using regular baking soda as a skin exfoliant is the best thing I’ve ever done. 

I keep a small container of it in my shower and apply a small amount to my skin a few times weekly. Just rub it over your face, neck, and upper chest area gently, and then rinse! Baking soda leaves your skin ultra smooth, and it harbors some antiseptic and anti-fungal properties that may soothe and prevent acne. 

Try Homemade Formulas 

When you struggle with acne, it can be tempting to run to a doctor for prescription remedies or try every store-bought product under the sun. However, you should consider some home remedies before further damaging your skin with other products. 

First, using a high quality facial mist is a great way to boost hydration and reduce inflammation when your breakouts are dry and painful. If you don’t know where to find one, you’re in luck—I have my personal formula for sale in my online shop!

Second, you should consider a homemade acne spot treatment. I always used store-bought ones, but they didn’t help much. But this recipe I’m about to share with you has worked wonders for me! 

I’m sorry to say I don’t use measurements in my recipes, but I’ll give you a list of ingredients. Combine very small amounts of the following in a small dish:

• Ground turmeric 
• Raw honey (Manuka is best for acne)
• Baking soda 
• Ground cinnamon (NOT cinnamon sugar!)
• Coconut milk 

My formula turns out like a paste that I can apply to my breakouts. I usually apply it before my shower, leaving in on my skin for 30 minutes to an hour. Also, beware that turmeric is highly pigmented and will stain your clothing! Although this might sound like a pain, it really helps! Using natural ingredients is always worth the extra steps, and they do more for your skin.

Use a Pore Vacuum 

If you have acne-prone skin, clogged pores are a common culprit. That said, using a pore vacuum is a great idea. In most cases, you don’t need a super expensive device to get the job done. You can probably find a suitable pore vacuum for $10-20. I like to use mine every other week to remove gunk from my skin—it’s super satisfying! It works best when your pores are open, and there are a few different ways to achieve this:

1. Do it right after your shower
2. Use a facial steamer
3. Hover your face over a bowl of hot water

Even though a pore vacuum isn’t the same as going to a professional, it’s an effective technique you can add to your home skincare routine. I recommend it!

Now that you have a few of my acne-prone skincare tips that actually work, you can boost your routine. Our skin can be temperamental, especially with hormonal issues. Learning what works for your unique skin is crucial, but I hope a few of my tips will improve your skin health.